St George's: Restore - Renew - Rejoice

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St George's: Restore - Renew - Rejoice

Fundraising for Important Renovations of St George’s Church, Benenden in 2025/2026

01/10/2026

We were delighted to welcome Cllr Claudine Russell from Kent County Council to the RRR project on Monday 28 September.

KCC has very kindly donated £500 towards the cost of the toilet extension planned as part of Phase 2. During her visit, Cllr Russell was impressed by how “big and bright” the space felt and promised to return for a service or community event when the church reopens.

We are very grateful to KCC for supporting the project and helping us move another step closer to completing this important work for our church and community.

If you are able to support the Restore, Renew, Rejoice campaign, your donation will make a direct difference to the next stages of this work. Follow the link for more information: https://stgeorgeschurchbenenden.co.uk/individuals/

Pictured: Paul Hewitt (RRR Fundraising), Cllr Claudine Russell (KCC) and Sally-Anne Marks (PCC) .

25/07/2026

Help Open St George’s to Everyone.

Our Restore, Renew, Rejoice project will make St George’s Church more accessible and welcoming for everyone.

Watch our short film to see why it matters. If you’d like to support the appeal, simply scan the QR code at the end.

19/04/2026

Restore, Renew, Rejoice Project Update No. 7 | 19 April 2026

Work continues on schedule, with strong progress across the site.

The oil tank has now been removed, and a new slab has been laid for the LPG tank, which will be screened by forthcoming planting.

Electricity ducts and water pipework for the radiators are fully in place.

Beam and block flooring has begun in key areas, including over the boiler room and the sunken grave at the rear of the north aisle.

Next up: installation of the deep insulation layer, which will house the underfloor heating system.

If you are able to support the Restore, Renew, Rejoice campaign, your donation will make a direct difference to the next stages of this work. Follow the link for more information: https://stgeorgeschurchbenenden.co.uk/individuals/

02/04/2026

🌿 Dingleden Open Gardens – Save the Date 🌿

Join us for a special weekend exploring beautiful private gardens in the heart of the High Weald.

📅 Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May 2026
⏰ 10am – 4pm
🎟 Entry £5 (parking available)

A rare chance to wander through a collection of unique gardens, including:
• Stunning wisteria in full bloom at Laurels Nursery
• Cottage garden and vegetable patch with refreshments at Barnhill Cottage
• A hidden gem at No. 3 New Buildings

All proceeds support St George’s Church, Benenden – Restore: Renew: Rejoice project and the deaf health charity SignHealth (https://signhealth.org.uk/)

Come along, bring friends, and enjoy a relaxed spring day in exceptional surroundings.

🔗 More information: www.stgeorgeschurchbenenden.co.uk

22/03/2026

St George’s – Restore • Renew • Rejoice Project
Update 5 | 20 March 2026

Significant progress this week as the church floor has been fully removed to the required level, with the underlying rubble consolidated.

During this work, 10 historic graves have been discovered and carefully recorded by our archaeologist. We have also uncovered four original pillar bases, dating back to the church prior to the lightning fire of 1672, along with medieval (likely 13th-century) north and west door thresholds.

Work is now moving forward with the installation phase:
• Insulation materials have arrived and will be laid over a protective geotextile membrane above the preserved graves and structures
• The old oil burner and heat exchanger have been removed
• A new floor section will be constructed using a beam-and-block system
• Underfloor electrical ducting is currently being installed

We are pleased to report that the project is running approximately two weeks ahead of schedule.

If you would like to support the Restore • Renew • Rejoice project, please visit:
https://stgeorgeschurchbenenden.co.uk/individuals/

Thank you for your continued encouragement and generosity as this important restoration moves forward.

22/02/2026

St George’s – Restore • Renew • Rejoice
Project Update 3 | 20 February 2026

Work inside the church is progressing well and remains on schedule.

The existing floor has now been fully removed and excavation for the new underfloor heating is substantially complete. All pews have been carefully taken out, and routes for the new underfloor services have been checked and cleared.

During works in the proposed kitchen area, a further historic graveslab has been uncovered. A full record of inscriptions from all uncovered graveslabs is being prepared so that careful decisions can be made about their protection and future treatment. Our priority is to ensure they are properly recorded and respectfully safeguarded.

The large stone slabs that once covered the Victorian heating ducts have been lifted and may be reused in future pathway improvements outside the church. Gravel will shortly be laid to strengthen the track near the Owl House.

The next stage will see remaining rubble cleared and a geotextile membrane laid, marking the first phase of the underfloor heating installation.

If you would like to support the Restore • Renew • Rejoice project, please visit:
https://stgeorgeschurchbenenden.co.uk/individuals/

Thank you for your continued encouragement and generosity as this important restoration moves forward.

08/02/2026

Update – 5 February 2026

Work at St George’s is progressing rapidly. The remaining sections of the old floor are now being removed, and an extraordinary piece of the church’s Victorian past has been revealed.

The enormous Victorian hot air ducts are now fully exposed, spanning east to west and north to south across the building — a remarkable glimpse into the engineering of the time.

All work is taking place under the careful supervision of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, who are recording historical details and advising what should be preserved for the future.

As the loose floor material is lifted, we are uncovering fascinating traces of the past, including fragments of what may be the original (possibly medieval) floor, along with historic grave slabs and evidence of earlier burial features.

It is a huge task removing all the old floor materials and heating ducts, but everything remains on schedule and moving forward well.

Important reminder: for health and safety reasons, no one should enter the main church site without permission and appropriate supervision.

Thank you to everyone supporting this exciting journey of restoration — the history beneath our feet is coming to light.

➡️ To find out more, follow progress, and support the project, visit:
https://stgeorgeschurchbenenden.co.uk

04/02/2026

St George's: Restore - Renew - Rejoice - Project Update 1

03/02/2026

Work is well underway at St George’s ⛪️🔨
With the old floor now lifted, an important chapter has closed and the next stage of renewal can begin.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore, renew and rejoice—creating a space that serves worship, community and future generations.

👉 Find out what’s planned
👉 See how you can be part of it
👉 Help shape what comes next

Support the Restore · Renew · Rejoice project here:

https://stgeorgeschurchbenenden.co.uk 🙏✨

Address

The Green
Cranbrook
TN174DL

Website

https://stgeorgeschurchbenenden.co.uk/

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